Maine is a place for all outdoor enthusiasts, including hikers, birders, hunters, trappers, and more
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If you are out enjoying Maine's outdoors, remember that it is trapping season and trappers may be using the same private or public land.?Trapping provides many benefits to both people and wildlife populations, and trapping regulations are strictly enforced by Maine Game Wardens.
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If you happen to come across a trap, remember that trappers must have landowner permission to be there. Please remember it is unlawful?to disturb traps, disturb any wild animal caught in a trap, or harvest an animal that is caught in someone else?s trap even if you suspect illegal activity. The best course of action is to contact the landowner or a game warden by calling the dispatch center nearest you.
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If your dog is unleashed, there is a remote chance they may get their foot stuck in a trap. Rest assured, traps used in Maine hold an animal's foot but are not designed to injure an animal. In fact, our biologists utilize these same traps to catch, research and release many species unharmed. The best way to prevent your dog from stepping in a trap is to follow Maine's leash laws and keep your dog leashed.?
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Trapping season is highly regulated and allows licensed individuals to trap abundant species such as fox, coyote, muskrat, beaver, bear, fisher, and others. Trapping helps keep populations stable and healthy, protects property and habitat, and provides biologists with valuable data to help prevent and manage disease and assess population trends. Learn more about regulated trapping.
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In the unlikely event that your dog gets caught in a trap, stay calm and follow these steps
A dog?s reaction to being caught in a foothold trap can vary from calm to frightened. Foothold traps are designed to hold an animal by the foot, and not injure the animal. Our biologists use foothold traps to catch and release wildlife species unharmed. The most common type of foothold trap used in Maine is shown here. If your dog gets caught in one of them, follow these steps:
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Stay calm and get help: If available, get a second person to assist you.
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Protect yourself: Some dogs may be calm, others may be frightened and attempt to bite, especially as the trap is removed from their foot. Protect yourself by securing the dog?s muzzle using a jacket or vest, or by placing a barrier between you and the dog.
Open the trap:?If possible, pull the trap chain tight from the anchor point and put the trap flat on the ground. To open the trap, push down using your hands or feet on the levers located at either end of the jaws (see arrows in the photos).This will release tension on the jaws and allow you to remove the dog?s foot.
Respect the trapper, and obey the law: It is unlawful to take or destroy a trap without permission from the owner.
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Prevent future incidents:?Follow leash laws and keep your dog on a leash.?
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